Malcolm Young: The Truth Behind His Illness And AC/DC’s Retirement

It has been reported that Malcolm Young, songwriter and guitarist for Australian rock band AC/DC has become too ill to perform and that the band would retire — but now, that doesn’t seem to be the case, according to frontman Brian Johnson himself. Read on for the truth behind the rumors!

Earlier this month, it was reported that songwriter and guitarist Malcolm Young, 61, would be too ill to perform in AC/DC anymore and that the band would be forced to retire, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. However, Brian Johnson, 66, the frontman of the Australian rock band has spoken out about the rumors — and things are not as dire as they have been reported! Read on for all the details.

Malcolm Young Ill But AC/DC Is Not Retiring

“We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver,” Brian told The Telegraph on April 16. “We’re going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we’ll record it.”

While Brian did confirm that a member of the band — presumably Malcolm — has been suffering from ill health, he does not believe that it will spell the end of AC/DC.

He continued, “I wouldn’t like to say anything either way about the future. I’m not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don’t want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We’ve been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much.”

”AC/DC members have previously made a pact that no band members will be replaced should someone need to leave the band,” according to a source who wrote in to Perth radio station, 6PR, which, if true, contradicts Brian’s statements.

AC/DC ‘Made A Pact That No Band Members Will Be Replaced Should Someone Need To Leave’

All of these rumors started in earnest when Mark Gable, 61, frontman for The Choirboys, told ABC Radio on April 15: “Malcolm is sick. From what I understand, and it’s even been confirmed in part by his son Ross [Young], that it would appear Malcolm is unable to perform any more. It’s not just that he is unwell, it’s that it is quite serious. It will constitute that he definitely won’t be able to perform live. He will probably not be able to record.”

So, good news and bad news. It looks like AC/DC is not going to disband any time soon, but that Malcolm Young is indeed quite ill.

Our condolences go out to Malcolm and his family, and we sincerely hope that he will be well enough to contribute to AC/DC moving forward.